Modelling and simulation of a fuel cell powered electric drivetrain for wide body passenger aircraft

With each passing day, new and more stringent emissions regulations are being introduced in all transportation sectors. The present day commercial airline sector is no stranger to that as exemplified by ICAO agreements signed in 2010; therefore reducing ground pollutant gas and noise emissions has become more important to a point where it has grown into the subject area of many new technological developments. One such development is the recent demonstration of electrical taxi drivetrains for wide body passenger airliners powered by a modified APU turbine electrical power generation system. To further understand the full potential of electric taxi drivetrains, work has been carried out to simulate replacing a regular APU by using PEM fuel cells to generate all the electrical power required by the aircraft and drivetrain. Simulation results will bring more light into the possible requirements, implications and benefits of the new architectures.